Decision details

To consider and approve the proposed Enforcement Policy.

The Enforcement Policy outlines the council’s approach to encouraging compliance with its regulations and policies in a way that is in line with current government legislation and guidance. Encouraging compliance with council policies and regulations enables the council to promote positive outcomes as set out in the City Strategy 2016-2020. In addition, it supports the Southampton City Council Strategy (2016-2020) outcomes:

•  People in Southampton live safe, healthy, independent lives

•  Southampton is a modern, attractive city where people are proud to live and work.

1.  One alternative would be to have no council-wide Enforcement Policy and instead have individual service area enforcement policies. This is inadvisable since having a general Enforcement Policy provides a solid common reference point from which other more service-specific policies can be developed as necessary. The general policy sets out the principles by which all council enforcement action should be carried out. If there is no common reference point, there is a risk that principles are inconsistently applied across different service areas. This might increase the risk of legal challenge and reduce the fairness and effectiveness of the council’s approach to enforcement.

2.  Another alternative option would be to have no policies on enforcement. This would be strongly inadvisable since it would undermine the council’s ability to support its policies and regulations with effective enforcement. It would also leave the council vulnerable to legal challenge.